Club scene: the summer has not improved the situation
After the first almost corona-free summer, Berlin's club scene has still not recovered from the economic consequences of the pandemic. "It's been a really bad year and the summer hasn't helped to change that," Clubcommission spokesperson Lutz Leichsenring told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
"You can still tell that people are holding back on consumption." Ultimately, this means less revenue per capita. This has prompted some clubs to raise their prices. "That's a double-edged sword, because it means certain groups can no longer afford to visit."
Fighting against the poor economic situation
Club Remise, for example, has had to close, as announced back in September. Other clubs are practising resilience and planning alternative uses for their spaces in winter. For example, the cultural venue Yaam (short for "Young African Art Market") is creating an ice rink for skating fans with an Afro-Caribbean Christmas market, as the operators announce on their website.
However, the plans for many other cultural venues are not yet ready, as Leichsenring explained. As in other sectors, the small establishments have the hardest time. "If we want to protect niche cultures in Berlin, we need to think about how we can support them with funding." For Leichsenring, these niches are "incredibly important for promoting innovation".
Conference for the future of nightlife
Next week, the industry will meet in Berlin for the three-day "City after eight" conference under the motto "Night Fever". The aim is to discuss solutions for nightlife, according to Leichsenring. "There is a feverish mood that is worrying."
During their leisure time, many Berliners still hesitate to fully engage in the club scene due to lingering economic uncertainties. The lively music playing in these clubs serves as a poignant reminder of the good times, but the scene's financial struggles are palpable.
Source: www.dpa.com
